Posting a Private Image by a Juvenile in Douglas County

Posting a private image by a juvenile is a crime in Douglas County, Colorado that involves exchanging intimate photos on electronic devices. Texting, emailing, and posting nude pics of themselves or peers from school can lead to criminal charges for your son or daughter. As many teens interact with their devices more and more, awareness as to what they’re sending and posting is crucial. Contact an experienced sex crimes attorney right away if your child has been accused of sexting in Colorado.

Colorado’s Posting a Private Image by a Juvenile Law

C.R.S. 18-7-109 describes violations of Colorado’s juvenile sexting laws. In regards to posting these images in Castle Rock, Parker, or Highlands Ranch, the law states:

“a juvenile commits the offense of posting a private image by a juvenile if he or she, through digital or electronic means:
- knowingly distributes, displays, or publishes to the view of another person a sexually explicit image of a person other than himself or herself who is at least fourteen years of age or is less than four years younger than the juvenile:
  - without the depicted person’s permission; or
  - when the recipient did not solicit or request to be supplied with the image and suffered emotional distress; or
  - when the juvenile knew or should have known that the depicted person had a reasonable expectation that the image would remain private; or
- knowingly distributes, displays, or publishes, to the view of another person who is at least fourteen years of age or is less than four years younger than the juvenile, a sexually explicit image of himself or herself when the recipient did not solicit or request to be supplied with the image and suffered emotional distress.”

While this wording can come across as complicated, contacting a skilled attorney to see how it applies to your child’s unique case is wise.

Is Posting a Private Image by a Juvenile a Serious Charge?

Any allegations of juvenile sexting are serious in Colorado because they can impact your teen’s future. Posting a private image by a juvenile is a class 2 misdemeanor in Douglas County. However, it can become a class 1 misdemeanor if any of the following applies:

the image(s) was used to cause emotional distress,
this is the minor’s 2nd or subsequent offense,
or 3 or more images of 3 or more different people were sent / posted

In some cases, juvenile sexting can be reduced to a petty offense. A particularly strategic defense lawyer working on your case can help.

Defense Attorney for Juvenile Cases in Douglas County

Just because your son or daughter is facing an accusation of juvenile sexting doesn’t mean they’re guilty. Your teenager also has a right to fight the charges. Our skilled defense lawyers have over a decade of combined experience representing minors facing allegations throughout Colorado. We offer reasonable fees, flexible payment plans, and also a free initial consultation. Contact our office today to begin the process of forming a strong defense on your child’s behalf.